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Boris Draznin, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Dr. Draznin is a Past Chairman of the Professional Section of the American Diabetes Association. He completed his fellowship training in Endocrinology at the University of Colorado in 1980, where he is currently a Professor of Medicine. His basic research focuses on the mechanisms of insulin action. These studies involve mechanisms that regulate glucose uptake, phosphorylation, and de-phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, the glucose transporter, and intracellular substrates of insulin action. These studies involve the biochemistry and physiology of second messenger systems, particularly the Ras oncogene, MAP and PI 3 kinases as they relate to the regulation of the mitogenic and metabolic action of insulin. In broader terms, these studies are designed to unravel the mechanism of post-receptor abnormalities seen in patients with diabetes mellitus, obesity, and insulin resistance, as well as mechanisms of hypertension and atherosclerosis in diabetes mellitus. Dr. Draznin's interests involve mechanisms, pathogenesis, and development of insulin resistance on both clinical and molecular levels. He is also addressing the questions of the mechanism of accelerated atherosclerosis in the presence of insulin resistance.

Selected Publications

  • Draznin B. Molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance: serine phosphorylation of IRS-1 and increased expression of p85α – the two sides of a coin. Diabetes 55:2392-2397, 2006. PUBMED

  • Nadeau KJ, Ehlers LB, Aguirre L, Moore RL, Jew KN, Ortmeyer HK, Hansen BC, Reusch JE-B, and Draznin B. Exercise Training and Calorie Restriction Increase SREBP-1 Expression and Intramuscular Triglyceride in Skeletal Muscle. American Journal of Physiology 291:E90-91, 2006. PUBMED

  • Cornier M-A, Bessesen DH, Gurevich I, Leitner JW, and Draznin B. Nutritional up-regulation of p85a expression is an early molecular manifestation of insulin resistance. Diabetologia 49:748-754, 2006. PUBMED

  • Wang C, Sharma G, and Draznin B. EGR-1 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells: effects of insulin and oxidant stress. American J Hypertension 19:366-372, 2006.

  • Reusch JE-B and Draznin B. Atherosclerosis in diabetes and insulin resistance. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism 2006.

  • Barbour L, Rahman SM, Gurevich I, Leitner JW, Fisher S, Roper M, Knotts T, Vo Y, Yakar S, LeRoith D, Kahn CR, Cantley L, Friedman J, and Draznin B. Increased P85alpha is a potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle insulin signaling and induces in vivo insulin resistance associated with growth hormone excess. Journal Biological Chemistry 280:37489-37494, 2005. PUBMED

  • Cornier MA, Donahoo WT, Pereira R, Gurevich I, Westergren R, Enerback S, Eckel PJ, Goalstone ML, Hill J, Eckel RH, and Draznin B. Insulin sensitivity determines the effectiveness of dietary macronutrient composition on weight loss in obese women. Obesity Research 13:703-709, 2005. PUBMED